Toy puppet-like figurine with accessories

ABSTRACT

A TOY PUPPET-LIKE FIGURINE WITH ACCESSORIES IS PROVIDED FOR ANIMATED LIFE-LIKE MOTION BY THE FINGERS OF A CHILD. THE FIGURINE HAS A RIGID UPPER BODY INCLUDING A TORSO AND A REMOVABLE ELASTIC FABRIC LOWER BODY FORMING A HALLOW LEGS CONNECTED THERETO. THE ELASTIC FABRIC LOWER BODY INCLUDES AN ATTACHED GARMENT FOR COVERING THE UPPER BODY, THE GARMENT BEING OPEN AT THE BACK FOR ENTRY OF THE CHILD&#39;&#39;S FINGERS AND HAVING A RECESS FROMED IN THE UPPER REAR OF THE LEGS DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE TWO FINGERS FOR INSERTION INTO THE HALLOW LEGS. A RETENTION MEANS IS SECURED HIGH UP ON TH FLAT BACK OF THE TORSO BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS TO HOLD AT LEAST ONE FINGER DIRECTLY AGAINST THE BACK OF THE UPPER BODY PROVIDING UPRIGHT SUPPORT TO THE TORSO. THE INDIVUDUAL ACCESSORIES ARE SHAPED TO RECEIVE AND BE FRICTIONALLY RETAINED BY THE LEGS WHEN RIGIDIFIED OR DISTENDED BY THE FINGERS.

Qct. 19:,I97l v Q s NoBLE E TAL I 3,613,301

' TOY PUPPET-LIKE FIGURINE WITH ACCESSORIES Filed Jun e ZZ, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVI'IN'I'ORS SID NOBLE GEORGE GILDER B3 a, p g c? ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1971 5, NOBLE ETAL 3,613,301

TOY PUPPET-LIKE FIGURINE WITH ACCESSORIES Filed June 22, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVIL'NTORS SID NOBLE GEORGE GILDER W @BM.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Int. Cl. A63h 3/14 U.S. Cl. 46-154 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy puppet-like figurine with accessories is provided for animated life-like motion by the fingers of a child. The figurine has a rigid upper body including a torso and a removable elastic fabric lower body forming hollow legs connected thereto. The elastic fabric lower body includes an attached garment for covering the upper body, the garment being open at the back for entry of the childs fingers and having a recess formed in the upper rear of the legs dimensioned to receive two fingers for insertion into the hollow legs. A retention means is secured high up on the flat back of the torso between the shoulders to hold at least one finger directly against the back of the upper body providing upright support to the torso. The individual accessories are shaped to receive and be frictionally retained by the legs when rigidified or distended by the fingers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 859,269, filed Sept. 19, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a toy puppet-like figurine. More specifically, this invention relates to a toy puppet-like figurine with a rigid upper body including a torso and a flexible fabric lower body connected to the torso for manipulation by two fingers of a child.

Various dolls have been construted for manipulation by the hand of a child. One such doll is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 222,571, issued to W. Carlin on Dec. 16, 1879.

This device employs a flap held in the hand in combination with a rigid support protruding from the back of the flat pasteboard body and a hand-gripping elastic band to support the pasteboard doll for manipulation by the fingers of a child. Such a device in addition to being complex for a child to manipulate is not very life-like.

Another doll is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 1,417,958, issued to A. Vogt on May 30, 1922. Vogt discloses a doll having a hollow celluloid body with a pair of spaced holes arranged in the rear thereof. Two fingers are inserted through the spaced holes to simulate the dolls legs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an advantage of the present invention that an animated life-like toy puppet-like figurine is provided for manipulation by two fingers of a child.

It is another advantage that the fabric material lower body is detachable from the upper body allowing the doll to be worn on the childs finger like a ring.

It is another advantage that individual accessories are dimensioned to receive and be retained by the animated figurine.

The toy puppet-like figurine includes an upper body having a torso constructed of rigid material with a substantially flat back portion for resting a portion of at ice least one finger thereagainst. A removable lower body is formed of flexible material and includes an attached garment for covering the front and sides of the upper body portion and being detachably connected about the neck portion of the torso. An opening is arranged within the flexible material exposing the back of the torso and forming a recess adjacent the rounded bottom end of the torso. Two independently movable hollow legs formed by the flexible material extend downwardly from the recess which is adapted to receive two fingers of a child for insertion of one finger into each of the hollow legs.

Resilient retention means high up on the back is included for holding the upper jointed portion of at least one finger, usually the index finger, fiat against the back of the torso when the fingers are inserted within the hollow legs. The resilient retention means is arranged between the shoulders on the back of the torso for holding the inserted finger in direct contact with the back whereby the torso is held upright. It is advantageous to position the resilient retention means at least one inch above the rounded bottom end of the upper rigid body portion for providing balance of the upper body portion during manipulation of the toy by children.

The toy puppet-like figure may include an accessory dimensioned to receive and be frictionally retained by the hollow legs when the fingers are inserted therein. The hollow legs when the fingers are inserted therein have sufficient rigidity to provide a wedging fit with the accessory whereby the accessory and rigidified legs may be integrally moved for animation by a child.

Alternatively, the torso of the toy alone may be worn on a finger like a ring by detaching the flexible fabric lower body from the torso.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood when the detailed description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, as follows:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the toy puppet-like figurine;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the figurine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the toy (the head is removed) with a. childs fingers inserted in the hollow legs and in supporting contact with the back of the figurine;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the toy worn on the finger with the flexible fabric lower body and associated garment removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the figurine with a sleigh accessory;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the figurine with a motorcycle accessory; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the figurine with a flying saucer accessory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the figurine 10 is shown having an upper body 12 including a hollow torso 14 having detachable arms 16 and a detachable head 18.

The hollow torso 14 is made of a rigid material, e.g. plastic, and has a substantially flat back portion 15 which may be at least partially roughened. The detachable arms 16 and head 18 are made of a resilient material, e.g. rubber or resilient plastic, and are mounted to the neck and shoulders respectively, of the torso 14.

A flexible material covering or lower body 19 includes an attached garment 17; the garment 17 being adapted to substantially cover the torso 14. This garment or body covering 17 is removably fastened about the neck of the torso 14 by snap 20' and has an opening 21 arranged therein, exposing the back of the torso 14, the opening 21 communicates with a recess 22 formed in the flexible material adjacent the rounded bottom end 29 of the torso 14. Extending downwardly from the recess 22 are two pouch-like hollow legs 23 and 25 formed by the resilient flexible material, for example such as elastic knit material. An elastic band 24 is afiixed to the flexible material along the periphery of the recess 22 for holding the inserted fingers within the hollow legs.

A resilient retention means or elastic loops 26 is mounted high up on the back 15 of the torso 14 within holes 28 and arranged between the shoulders. It is advantageous to have the elastic loop 26 positioned at least one inch above the rounded bottom 29 of the torso 14 for balancing manipulation of the toy by children, as seen most clearly in FIG. 4. The loop 26 should be positioned so that the distance between the rounded bottom 29 of the torso 14 and the loop 26 is at least 30% of the distance between the rounded bottom 29 of the torso 14 and the top of the head 18.

It has been found to be advantageous for proper manipulation and realism to construct the toy with the torso 14, the head 18 and hollow legs 23 and 25 all of substantially the same length; each being approximately onethird (Vs) the total length of the toy.

For animation, the child inserts two fingers through the recess 22 into the hollow legs 21 and 23. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the index finger and adjacent finger are used but other combinations of two adjacent fingers may be employed. Prior to such insertion, the index finger is slipped through the elastic loop 26 in a ring-like manner as seen in FTG. 3 for holding a portion of this finger above the first finger joint in direct contact with the back 15. It may be more comfortable for some children to insert both fingers through the elastic loop 26 prior to insertion into the hollow legs 23 and 25 to provide ease of manipulation.

The fingers are then inserted into the recess 22 so that the finger tips extend downwardly toward the bottom of the hollow legs 23 and 25 and the distended or rigidified legs may be inserted into boots 32 and 34 if desired (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The elastic loop 26 is located near the knuckle and it holds the portion of the index finger between the knuckle and first joint in direct contact with the flat back 15 of the torso 14 so that the upper body 12 is held upright; the roughened region 31 of the back 15 aiding in maintaining good frictional contact between the finger portion and the back 15. The elastic band 24 further aids in holding the inserted fingers within the hollow legs 23 and 25. Thus, the child may readily animate the figurine by moving his two fingers.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toy may be used with the detachable garment 17 and fabric material lower body 19 removed from the hollow torso 14. The legless toy figurine is worn on any finger desired in ring-like fashion for animation by a child.

Referring to FIG. 5, the figurine It) is shown with a sleigh accessory 36. The child has inserted his two fingers through recess 22 and into flexible legs 23 and 25. Motion of the tips of his fingers will move the legs 23 and 25 providing animation of the figurine it).

The sleigh accessory 36 has recesses 38 (only one being shown for ease of description) dimensioned or shaped to receive the flexible legs 23 and 25 when distended or provided with sufficient rigidity through placement of the fingers therein. The recesses 38 receive the distended or rigidified legs providing a wedgiug or friction between the seat 40 and the distended legs.

Referring to PIG. 6, the figurine 10 is shown with a motorcycle accessory 42. The motorcycle accessory 42 has a frame 44 dimensioned or shaped to receive the flexible legs 23 and 25 when distended or rigidified through placement of the fingers therein. The distended or rigidified legs are placed within adjacent recesses 46 (Only one being shown for ease of description) providing a wedgiug fit against the frame walls 48 of the adjacent recesses 46.

Referring to FIG. 7, the figurine 10 is shown with a flying saucer accessory 50 having two recesses 52 and 54 positioned therein dimensioned to receive the distended or rigidified legs 23 and 25. The recesses 52 and 54 provide a wedging or friction fit with the distended or rigidified hollow legs 23 and 25 when the fingers are positioned therein. The accessories 36, 42 and 50 and figurine 10 are thus integrally movable for animation by the fingers of the child.

It should be understood by one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as described in the specification and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy puppet-like figurine for manipulation and support by two fingers of a child comprising:

an upper body including a hollow torso made of a rigid material having a substantially fiat back portion for resting a flat portion of one finger thereagainst; lower body formed of a flexible material having an attached torso-covering garment connected about the neck portion of said torso for support of said lower body by said torso, said garment having an opening therein exposing the back of said torso and forming a recess adjacent the bottom of said torso with two independently movable hollow legs extending downwardly from said recess:

said recess communicating with the interior of said hollow legs and being arranged to receive two fingers of a child for insertion of one finger into each of said hollow legs; and

resilient retention means comprising an elastic loop encircling and securely holding a portion of at least one finger against the fiat back portion of said torso when the fingers are positioned within said hollow legs whereby said torso is held against the one finger portion allowing the torso to remain in an upright position and holding the inserted fingers within the hollow legs for manipulation of the legs and inserted fingers relative thereto.

2. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient retention means is arranged between the shoulders on the back of said torso for holding a portion of the inserted finger in direct contact with said flat back whereby said torso is held upright.

3. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said torso is roughened over a portion of said flat back for providing frictional holding contact between the finger portion and said fiat back.

4. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible material covering garment is removably fastened about the neck of said torso.

5. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper body includes a head mounted to said torso and said resilient retention means is mounted to the back and positioned so that the distance between the bottom of said torso and said resilient retention means is at least 30% of the distance between the bottom of said torso and the top of said head.

6. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said head and said torso are substantially the same length for providing ease of manipulation and realism of the toy.

7. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient retention means is positioned at least one inch above the bottom of said torso.

8. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a resilient support band is arranged about the periphery of said recess for holding the fingers within said hollow legs.

9. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 1 including an accessory having recesses dimensioned to receive and be frictionally retained by said hollow legs when distended, said hollow legs undergoing sufficient expansion when distended to provide a wedging fit when positioned within said recesses, whereby said accessory and distended legs may be integrally moved for animation by a child.

10. A toy puppet-like figurine capable of being worn in a ring-like manner on the finger of a child comprising:

a torso made of a rigid material having a substantially flat back portion for resting a flat portion of a finger thereagainst; and

an elastic loop mounted to the back of said torso through two holes arranged between the shoulders and being tensioned to hold said flat back portion and finger portion securely together, whereby the torso may be worn on the finger of the child in a ring-like manner.

11. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim wherein said upper body includes a head mounted to said torso, said head and said torso being substantially the same length for providing ease of manipulation and realism of the toy.

12. A toy puppet-like figurine for manipulation and support by two fingers of a child comprising:

an upper body including a torso with a rounded bottom made of a rigid material and having a substantially flat back portion for resting a fiat portion of one finger thereagainst;

a lower body formed of flexible material interconnected to said torso for support of said lower body by said torso, said lower body having a recess arranged therein adjacent said rounded bottom of said torso and having two independently movable hollow legs extending downwardly from said recess;

said recess communicating with the interior of said hollow legs arranged to receive two fingers of a child for insertion of one finger into each of said hollow legs; and

an elastic band mounted about the periphery of said recess for holding the inserted fingers in position within said hollow legs to retain the fingers within the hollow legs whereby the fingers are inserted through said recess into said hollow legs and held therein allowing manipulation of said legs.

13. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 12 including an accessory having recesses dimensioned to receive and be frictionally retained by said hollow legs when the fingers of a child are positioned therein, said hollow legs having sufiicient rigidity when the fingers are positioned therein to provide a wedging fit when positioned within said recesses, whereby said accessory and rigidified legs may be integrally moved for animation by a child.

14. A toy puppet-like figurine for manipulation and support by two fingers of a child comprising:

an upper body including a hollow torso made of rigid material having a fiat roughened back portion for resting at flat portion of one finger thereagainst;

a lower body formed of a flexible material removably interconnected with said torso for support of said lower body by said torso and having a recess formed within said lower body adjacent the bottom of said torso and two independently movable hollow legs extending downwardly from said recess; and

resilient retention means arranged between the shoulders on the back of said torso and comprising an elastic loop encircling and securely holding the inserted finger in direct contact with the back whereby said torso is held upright with a portion of the finger in frictional holding contact with said roughened back portion and said inserted fingers are held within said hollow legs.

15. A toy puppet-like figurine as claimed in claim 14 including an accessory having recesses dimensioned to receive and be frictionally retained by said hollow legs when the fingers of a child are positioned therein, said hollow legs having suflicient rigidity when the fingers are positioned therein to provide a wedging fit when said rigidified legs are positioned within said recesses, whereby said accessory and rigidified legs may be integrally moved for animation by a child.

16. A toy puppet-like figurine for manipulation and support by two fingers of a child comprising:

an upper body portion including a hollow torso, having a rounded bottom made of a rigid material;

an outer covering formed of a flexible material removably connected about the neck of said torso for support by said torso and having a single opening arranged therein adjacent the rounded bottom of said torso and sized to receive two fingers; and

a pouch-like portion communicating with said opening, said pouch-like portion having two independently movable hollow legs extending downwardly therefrom and being dimensioned to receive and retain one finger within each of said hollow legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 222,571 12/1879 Carlin. 1,143,808 6/1915 Choate. 1,417,958 5/1922 Vogt.

2,155,665 4/ 1939 Leeper.

FOREIGN PATENTS 337,132 5/1921 Germany. 592,466 5/ 1945 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner 

